National Projects

Technological and innovative entrepreneurship program in Lleida. EMPRÈN BIO 4.0 promotes technological and innovative entrepreneurship as a driver of new sustainable business models in Lleida. The project boosts the economic and business fabric through the bioeconomy and its value chains: agri-food, biomaterials, bioenergy, biofertilizers, biofuels, bioproducts, bioplastics and the economic and social valorisation of ecosystem services. EMPRÈN BIO 4.0 supports entrepreneurs through specialised training and mentoring to promote the creation and growth of companies based on innovation, technology and new business models in the field of bioeconomy. The objective is to promote the valorisation of renewable [...]

Current state and action plan for Blue Carbon in Catalonia. BlauCat analyses the state of blue carbon in the coastal ecosystems of Catalonia to assess its potential as CO₂ sinks and design conservation and restoration strategies. These ecosystems, which include wetlands and seagrass meadows, are fundamental for carbon sequestration and climate change mitigation, coastal protection, and marine biodiversity. BlauCat quantifies blue carbon reserves, identifies threats, and establishes monitoring tools that enable management based on scientific evidence. Additionally, the project lays the groundwork for its inclusion in carbon offset mechanisms and environmental policies in Catalonia. Through mapping, [...]

R&D to help the agri-food industry face the challenges of climate change and increase its competitiveness. Agrosimbiosis addresses the competitiveness gaps associated with the challenges of the climate crisis in the agri-food sector through the development and adaptation of technologies. Within the context of this project, the R&D line "Obtaining high-value bioproducts from agroindustry" develops and validates a paste made from discarded walnuts for export, incorporating a microencapsulated polyphenol extract to improve its oxidative stability and promote its commercial viability. This study arises from the collaboration between the Center for Systems Biotechnology of the Andrés Bello [...]

New system for the treatment and removal of nitrogen oxide (NOx) from flue gases. NoNOx develops a new technology for the treatment of nitrogen oxides from industrial emission gases. Nitrogen oxides (NOx, including NO and NO2) are emitted by combustion processes in many industrial sectors (e.g., energy, thermal waste valorisation and steel industry). In terms of air quality, high emissions of NOx contribute negatively to the ecosystem and human health. Currently, industrial NOx emissions are treated by physical-chemical technologies (selective non-catalytic and selective catalytic reduction) that have high operational and capital costs and produce a great [...]

Innovative CO2 capture system for industrial integration in a renewable hydrogen plant. CO2 CAPTURIL develops an innovative CO2 capture system in methanol reforming, addressing the challenges of sustainable hydrogen production. Since this process generates significant CO2 emissions, CO2 CAPTURIL proposes an efficient solution based on advanced ionic liquid and porous polysulfone capsules technologies, improving capture capacity and reducing environmental impact compared to conventional methods. In addition to reducing emissions in hydrogen production, the project validates the versatility of high-purity captured CO2, using it in sectors such as the chemical and food industry. This raw material can [...]

Renewable methanol for sustainable maritime transport. COMECOCO2 develops and validates an efficient system that integrates a high-temperature co-electrolyser (co-SOEC) and a catalytic reactor to produce competitive renewable methanol from CO2 captured from wastewater, reclaimed water and renewable electricity. This system, with application in maritime transport, will be validated in a laboratory environment and a preliminary validation will be carried out in a relevant environment, specifically in a wastewater treatment plant (WWTP). Despite the deployment of numerous emission mitigation policies through the use of renewable energy alternatives, sectors such as heavy transport continue to use almost exclusively [...]

Resilience 4.0 of infrastructures and crops against invasive species. INVASOR-ES develops advanced technological solutions to combat invasive alien species (IAS) in hydraulic infrastructures, especially in irrigation systems. These species, such as the zebra mussel, the apple snail and bryozoans, generate serious problems in infrastructures: obstructions, breakdowns, high maintenance costs and loss of agricultural productivity. INVASOR-ES implements new technologies where the use of advanced monitoring sensors, combined with artificial vision and deep learning, will allow the precise and efficient identification and classification of different larvae of invasive species. The main result of this project is the creation [...]

Application of biochar in regenerative agriculture. BIOSAL applies biochar in regenerative agriculture, promoting the circular bioeconomy and improving soil health. This initiative addresses significant environmental challenges, such as poor soil quality, dependence on chemical fertilisers and inefficient management of organic and forestry residues. Biochar, produced through the pyrolysis of plant residues, has the capacity to enhance soil quality, increase soil biodiversity and reduce the need for chemical inputs. Furthermore, it contributes to climate change mitigation by capturing carbon and improving soil structure. The project evaluates the properties of biochar and other organic amendments in compliance to [...]

DiTEC researches and develops technological solutions based on data quality and new generative AI algorithms for the creation of innovative Digital Twins as key enablers of the autonomous factory and Industry 5.0. In the current context of industry, characterised by increasing complexity and competitiveness, the ability to innovate and optimize production processes is essential. Advances in digitalisation and the adoption of digital enablers such as the Internet of Things and AI have allowed the development of the digital twin: virtual replicas of physical systems that can simulate, predict and optimise their behaviour. The digital twin is [...]

Automatic resuscitation for ventilation in cardiopulmonary resuscitation. AIR2LIFE develops an advanced automatic ventilation device designed to support cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) in cases of sudden cardiac arrest. The innovative solution, led by Dipneo in collaboration with Eurecat, assists both professional and non-professional first responders by automating the ventilation process during CPR, optimising patient survival rates. Cardiac arrest is a leading cause of mortality globally, with survival rates decreasing by 10% for each minute without proper intervention. Current manual resuscitation devices require physical effort and trained personnel, limiting their effectiveness in emergency situations. AIR2LIFE addresses these limitations by [...]

Revaluation of products and co-products of the territory with differentiated nutritional value. RE-VALORA TERRITORI incorporates honey with different nutritional and rheological characteristics into new food products. The project revalues ​​whey, fruit (apple and pear), legumes, honey and spirulina algae to obtain new food products. This revaluation of co-products is in line with the challenge and culture of reducing food waste. RE-VALORA TERRITORI considers circular economy as cooperation between food processors by supplying each other with ingredients and/or by-products to be revalued and, in this way, reducing the impact of the accumulation of by-products. The current situation [...]

Development of a substrate with properties similar to conventional substrates, made from the by-products of the agri-food industry as an alternative to peat and/or coconut fiber. AGRIVAL identifies which by-products and mixtures from the agri-food industry have similar properties to peat and coconut fiber in order to generate sustainable and efficient substrates. Once characterised, the new substrates will be used in crops of local agricultural producers, particularly in strawberry and tomato crops, to assess their technical, economic, and environmental application. Currently, peat and coconut fiber are key components in the production of agricultural substrates, as they [...]

Irrigation management tool with alternative water sources for the resilience of fruit and vegetable farms. CLIMASEQ develops an advanced decision support system for irrigation, which integrates alternative water sources such as groundwater, rainwater and reclaimed water. This tool will help farmers efficiently manage irrigation in the short and medium term, optimising the use of water resources according to the specific needs of crops and water availability. In addition, it promotes sustainable management of water resources in the long term, taking into account future climate scenarios, and will improve the resilience of farms to climate change, especially [...]

Improvement of care and monitoring of anxiety and depression disorders in women during preconception, pregnancy and postpartum. Laia Health improves the approach to emotional disorders in women during maternity through a digital platform that acts as a training and support tool for both patients and healthcare professionals. Laia Health seeks to address the growing challenge of maternal mental health, an area where the prevalence of emotional disorders is high (1 in 4 women) and detection capacity remains very low (less than 25%). These disorders can affect the cognitive development of the baby in its first weeks [...]

Insecticulture and circular economy. LIVLAB-IN transforms agriculture and agroindustry through insecticulture and the principles of the circular economy. This project uses insect production as a solution for the valorisation of by-products, waste and plant residues, contributing to a more sustainable and profitable model in several links of the food chain, from the first transformation to the waste generated in food stores. Through this methodology, LIVLAB-IN proposes solutions to optimise the use of resources (breeding substrate, space, energy and water), to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and to take advantage of waste nutrients efficiently, helping to convert waste [...]